“If federal programs were not, even to this day, reinforcing racial isolation by disproportionately directing low-income African Americans who receive housing assistance into the segregated neighborhoods that government had previously established, we might see many more inclusive communities. Undoing the effects of de jure segregation will be incomparably difficult. To make a start, we will first have to contemplate what we have collectively done and, on behalf of our government, accept responsibility.”
Here, Rothstein shows that racist government policies in the 20th Century would have wide-reaching consequences for the future. He emphasizes that government programs directing poor African-Americans to similar areas would lead to wider segregation and exclusivity. He also says that because segregation was once law, it requires substantial de facto effort to reverse, which certainly wasn't achieved.
“In 1944, the G.I. Bill was adopted to support returning servicemen. The VA not only denied African Americans the mortgage subsidies to which they were entitled but frequently restricted education and training to lower-level jobs for African Americans who were qualified to acquire greater skills.”
Rothstein emphasizes how African Americans were not given the same help or support during the 20th Century, putting many families at a disadvantage. He gives the example of black servicemen returning from the war, who did not receive the same financial and practical help as white servicemen.
